Geographical distributions of physicians in Japan and US: Impact of healthcare system on physician dispersal pattern
Health PolicyPublished 17 March 2010
Masatoshi Matsumoto, Kazuo Inoue, R. C. Bowman, Satomi Noguchi, Satoshi Toyokawa, Eiji Kajii
Citations146
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.36
SNIP1.49
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TL;DR
In spite of constant growth of physician numbers, physicians do not diffuse according to population distribution in Japan and the US, and rather, US physicians seem to disperse according to income distribution.
Abstract
In spite of constant growth of physician numbers, physicians do not diffuse according to population distribution in both countries. Rather, US physicians seem to diffuse according to income distribution. In order to reverse the continuing maldistribution of physicians, political intervention is required in both countries.
Keywords
Health ProfessionsEconomics, Econometrics and Finance
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